Not all activities are created equal. Thus we have to make choices and decisions. Some decisions are more important than others. Others are just activities. Thus we put on the top of our lists activities that create value and wealth.
Say in replacing brake pads of a car: What are the activities involved:
Activities VA Non VA Time spent
1, Bring car to garage / 5 minutes
2. Fill up paper works / 5 minutes
3. Endorsement of car to mechanic / 1 minutes
4. Mechanic checks car/paper works / 5 minutes
5. Mechanic jacks up car / 2 minutes
6. Mechanic removes tires/brake pads / 10 minutes
7. Mechanic orders new brake pads / 2 minutes
8. Mechanic installs brake pads / 2 minutes
9. Mechanic reinstalls wheels / 2 mechanics
10. Mechanics lowers jack / 2 minutes
Total 14 22 36
If the total time in the garage of 36 minutes. only 14 minutes were value added. In many jobs, there
are many tasks that non value added. Some are regulatory though like paper works. Some tasks are cause of outright waste. Like TIMWOOD
T - TRANSPORTATION (to and fro warehouse, DC, storage bins)
I - INVENTORY (too much, just in time is better, lean stocks)
M - MOTION (wasted motion, unnecessary, maarte)
W WASTE (of time, maerials, motion, talking, bad workmanship)
O OVER PRODUCTION (it is better for some factories to stop producing
so as not to waste labor, materials, time and money
O OVERCONTROL - too many cooks spoil the broth. Too many
sign offs, controller, inspection
D DELAY - in payment, waiting for signatures, arrival of materials
solution D I N (Do it now) Sitting on a problem. Delaying action
The goals are:
1. Reduce delays
2. Reduce waste. Reduction of waste creates value and wealth
3. Make VA robust: invest in machines and automation Make it faster and easier. E. g. make
it easier to install brakes. Gather all the tools near the workplace. Avoid distraction in
VA tasks
4. Lessen parts and steps in VA
5. Employ engineers and supervisors to study the much better way.
